I thought I would pass along some thoughts from our first Initiating Committee for the new Chapel Hill Comprehensive Plan. As has been noted on OP before, the Initiating Committee has an important task in insuring that a diverse group of stakeholders attend meetings and that all viewpoints in the town are represented. The committee seems both thoughtful and diverse in our opinions about the town, and on how to attract people into comprehensive plan discussions. The item that sparked the most discussion was how (or even if) citizens who don’t live in Chapel Hill, but because of employment, proximity, or ties to the University, should be involved in the process.
Several committee members, and Council Member Rich, were passionate that non Chapel Hill citizens should not be formal “stake-holders” in the comprehensive plan process, and I tend to agree. At the same time, it is important that we consider the needs of many people who visit our town, for various reasons. Thousands of people visit Chapel Hill for arts events, basketball games, and cultural programs every year. While our Comprehensive Plan should not cater to their needs, we should be aware of how best to attract their spending dollars and think about how these visitors impact resident’s lives.
Initiating Committee members have been given two pieces of homework before our next meeting. First, we were tasked with brainstorming ideas for one or two members of the community to serve as the Chairperson for the Comprehensive Plan.
We came up with a list of qualities needed in the chairperson, including being positive, an honest broker, responsive, and someone you would want to have a beer with. In short, this person needs to be a perfect super-human. Secondly, we were tasked with coming up with a name for the comprehensive plan. The Initiating Committee meets again on May 31st. I’d love feedback or thoughts on our two homework assignments; does anyone have names for the project, or ideas for the chairs?Meeting notes on Chair Person
“The reason why chairs are important for community-based projects is to demonstrate that the project is community driven, not just government driven. The chairs role will be to work with the facilitation team in the large meetings and throughout the process, champion the project in community and be a bridge builder/fence mender when necessary.”
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